Patti Roberts Papers 1968-2009 (Bulk 1971-2004) GLC 111
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http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8s1870x No online items Finding aid to the Patti Roberts Papers 1968-2009 (bulk 1971-2004) GLC 111 Finding aid prepared by Tim Wilson James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102 [email protected] URL: http://sfpl.org/gaylesbian 2016 Finding aid to the Patti Roberts GLC 111 1 Papers 1968-2009 (bulk 1971-2004) GLC 111 Title: Patti Roberts Papers Date (inclusive): 1968-2009 (bulk 1971-2004) Date (bulk): 1971-2004 Identifier/Call Number: GLC 111 Creator: Roberts, Patti R. Physical Description: 8 cartons, 1 oversized framed certificate, 2 map folders(8 cubic feet) Contributing Institution: James C. Hormel LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library 100 Larkin Street San Francisco, CA 94102 415-557-4567 [email protected] URL: http://sfpl.org/gaylesbian Abstract: Patricia (Patti) Rose Roberts was a longtime San Francisco Bay Area resident and civil rights and labor attorney. The papers document her interest in prison reform, George Jackson and Stephen Bingham, comparable worth and pay equity for women, gay and lesbian issues in the workplace, and employment discrimination. The collection contains subject files, photographs, books and magazines, and posters and ephemera. The collection is stored onsite. Language of Material: The majority of the materials are in English with some items in Spanish. Conditions Governing Access The collection is available for use during San Francisco History Center hours, with photographs available during Photo Desk hours. Conditions Governing Use Copyright and literary rights retained by the Estate of Patti Roberts. Preferred Citation [Identification of item], Patti Roberts Papers (GLC 111), LGBTQIA Center, San Francisco Public Library. Immediate Source of Acquisition Donated by Patti R. Roberts, September 24, 2008. Papers transferred by Margit Galanter, August 17, 2011. Biographical / Historical Patricia (Patti) Rose Roberts was a longtime San Francisco Bay Area resident, an out lesbian, and a civil rights and labor attorney. She was born in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York, on November 13, 1946. She graduated from Brooklyn College in 1967 and went to the University of California at Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law. She graduated from Boalt in 1970 with a J.D. degree and a desire to use her legal skills to help those traditionally without representation. That same year, she formed a collective Oakland household where she and others, including Stephen Bingham, lived. While others moved out, Ms. Roberts lived in the home for the next 41 years. Roberts began her career working on behalf of prisoners at the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), and remained active with the organization, serving as president of the Bay Area chapter and on the local NLG board. While continuing to do political work with the guild, Roberts began work as the head of the Women's Litigation Unit at San Francisco Neighborhood Legal Aid, representing poor women on a wide range of legal issues. Following her time at Legal Aid, Ms. Roberts founded and co-directed the Comparable Worth Project in Oakland, which pioneered much of the earliest legal work on the issue of pay inequity rooted in gender and race bias. In 1977, Patti became a founding board member of the Lesbian Rights Project, later re-named the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and later served as NCLR interim executive director. NCLR is a nonprofit organization that was created to promote LGBT rights through litigation, public policy advocacy and public education. Roberts began private practice as an employment discrimination attorney in 1990 and also taught LGBT, legal, and labor studies at City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State University Extension. As a lawyer, her practice gravitated toward the defense of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights as well as women's and minority rights in the Bay Area. During her entire career, Roberts remained an outspoken advocate for feminist and LGBT rights. Patti Roberts died unexpectedly on January 7, 2011. Scope and Contents The papers document Roberts' interest in prison reform, George Jackson and Stephen Bingham, comparable worth and pay equity for women, gay and lesbian issues in the workplace, and employment discrimination. The collection contains subject Finding aid to the Patti Roberts GLC 111 2 Papers 1968-2009 (bulk 1971-2004) GLC 111 files, photographs, books and magazines, and posters and ephemera. There are files on her speaking engagements with notes and speeches. There are course readers and syllabi for the classes Roberts taught on the law and labor, employment, and gay and lesbian issues through San Francisco State University Extended Education, and City College of San Francisco. There are some materials on the East Bay Lesbian / Gay Democratic Club and the National Center for Lesbian Rights. There are many pamphlets and books, including several publications by the National Lawyers Guild on gay rights and women's rights, some Soledad materials, and Weather Underground publications. Arrangement The collection is roughly grouped into four series: Subject Files; Photographs; Books and Magazines; Posters and Ephemera. Subjects and Indexing Terms Domestic partner benefits -- Law and legislation -- United States. Equal pay for equal work -- Law and legislation -- United States Gay men -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- United States. Gay men -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- United States. Gay rights -- United States. Lesbians -- Legal status, laws, etc. Sex discrimination in employment -- Law and legislation -- United States Women -- Employment -- Law and legislation -- United States Roberts, Patti R. -- Archives East Bay Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club. National Lawyers Guild. Series 1 Subject Files box 1 Prison. [Stephen Bingham, George Jackson materials]. Steven L. Mayer letter to Alfred Bingham, May 16, 1978 encloses "Chapter 8. War Without Terms: The Death of George Jackson" copyright 1978 by Huey P. Newton (attributed by Mayer to Pat Richartz and others); "A Wanted Man: Is He Dead or Alive?" (Independent Journal Marin County, November 10, 1980) about Stephen Bingham; Josiah Thompson, Russell Stetler Memorandum to Counsel re: People vs. Johnny Spain, March 23, 1983 to Dennis Riordan, Esq.; clipping "The Binghams: a perversely fascinating family" by Frances Starn/Bookmarks; photocopy of trial? transcripts regarding George Jackson; photocopied Memorandum re extradition; California Magazine, January 1985 with article "The Last One Home: Requiem for a Mass Movement" by Jo Durden-Smith. 1978-1985 box 1 Prison. "San Quentin News" (photocopied clippings about George Jackson, Stephan Bingham, et al.) 1971 box 1 Prison. Clippings (original and photocopied clippings about prisons, San Quentin, George Jackson, Stephen Bingham) 1971 Physical Description: 2 folders box 1 Prison. [Bingham case], 1971. Order no. 4094 The People of the State of California vs. Stephen Mitchell Bingham, et al., October 1971; Affidavit of Bruce Bales, District Attorney Marin County, August 31, 1971; 4 sketches of Quentin Adjustment Center; Coroner's report for George Lester Jackson, 1971 (2 copies) 1971 box 1 Prison. "Memo. San Quentin, August 21. Bingham," 1971. October 18, 1971 memorandum to the Steve Bingham Defense Team 1971 box 1 Articles Family / Gay, 1972-1980. Includes pamphlets: Families by Linda Gordon "a Bread and Rose Publication" (Boston: New England Free Press, 1970) with pencil annotations; and, The Political Perspective of The Lavender & Red Union (Los Angeles: Lavender & Red Union, March 1975) 1970-1982 box 1 "Roberts / Prison Law 12.0" regarding lesbian and gay prisoners box 1 Huey P. Newton, 1942-1989. Photocopy of memorial service program (Allen Temple Baptist Church, Oakland, CA) 1989 Finding aid to the Patti Roberts GLC 111 3 Papers 1968-2009 (bulk 1971-2004) GLC 111 Series 1Subject Files box 1 National Lawyers Guild. "Convention Theme--NEC introduction" annotated, 1978. Gay Rights Task Force, NEC Proposal "The Struggle for Democratic Rights and the Guild" 1978 box 1 "Cuba--Gay / NLG." Includes "Homophobia and Sexism in Cuba" by Patti Roberts (Guild Notes, January 1979); correspondence with Barbara Ellen Handschu, Bob Hilliard, Sheryl [Karp?]; clippings, agenda for the Gay & Lesbian Cuban Refugee Program, memorandum from Bay Area Anti-Sexism Committee 1979-1981 Physical Description: 2 folders box 1 Women. Pornography 1985 box 1 Speaking Engagements. Includes correspondence, notes for speeches, programs, flyers 1982-1985 box 1 L / G [Lesbian / Gay] Articles, Family. 1979-1993 box 1 G / L [Gay / Lesbian] Workplace Fall 1997, 1997-2006 box 1 BALIF Workshop. Sexual Orientation and Employment 1992 box 1 Labor Studies. GLBT Work 1990-2001 box 1 Restaurants 1993-2006 box 2 Comparable Worth. Articles--Miscellaneous [includes "The 59 cent Swindle" by Patti Roberts (Union WAGE, January-February 1981), "Equal Pay For Equal Work" by Patti Roberts and Virginia Dean (Guild Notes, 11/80)] 1976-1984 Physical Description: 2 folders box 2 Comparable Worth. Patti Roberts legal file. [Primarily contains photocopies of legal judgements. Folder #2 includes "November 1, 1981 preliminary findings report from the Comparable Worth Committee to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors" (Roberts was on the committee); "Remarks by Virginia Dean before the California Public Employers Labor Relations Association, Nov. 14, 1980" Comparable Worth Project; Notes for speech to California Women in Government; memorandum from Marie Ory] 1980-1981 Physical Description: